Suspects, 24 and 13, in custody as Grand Rapids police look for more in woman's beating

GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- Police say a 24-year-old man and 13-year-old boy are in custody -- with others being sought -- for an early morning assault of a woman inside an abandoned house on Sheldon Avenue SE.

The two suspects were captured as officers swarmed on the scene at Sheldon Avenue and Buckley Street. Both were fleeing, but police set up a perimeter and managed to catch them.

Grand Rapids Police Capt. Jeff Hertel said police learned that several people who apparently were homeless were staying in an abandoned house at 539 Sheldon. At about 4:30 a.m., a group of people outside started throwing bricks through windows and threatening to burn the place down.

One of the bricks hit a 35-year-old woman inside the house and she called police.

The people outside briefly left, but returned with "backup" and barged into the house. They dragged the woman into a kitchen, beat her in the legs with an object as they threatened to sexually assault her.

They wanted her to perform a sex act on them, police said.

Police soon arrived, however, and the assailants scattered. One reportedly jumped from a second-floor window to get out of the house.

One of the suspects was caught along nearby Thompson Court while another was located along Sheldon. Police are still looking for a handful of others who escaped capture.

The woman did not require hospital treatment and complained of soreness where she was struck.

Police said the 24-year-old and 13-year-old could face a charge of assault with intent to commit criminal sexual conduct.

Meanwhile, police planned to have the house boarded up so that it cannot be accessed.